The rise of agriculture has been pointed to as being responsible for the rise of civilization as we know it.

However, that raises the question. What was responsible for the rise of agriculture?

In particular, at least in the Middle East with the cultivation of grain, the debate

has always been between which came first, beer or bread.

Learn more about the great beer versus bread debate and which was responsible for the rise of civilization

on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. This episode is sponsored by Audible.

My audio book recommendation today is The Brewers' Tale, a history of the world

according to Beer by William Bostwick. The Brewer's Tale is a beer filled journey into the past.

The story of Brewers Gone By and one brave writer's quest to bring them,

and their ancient forgotten beers, back to life, one taste at a time.

This is the story of the world according to beer, a toast of flavors born of necessity in place in Belgian monasteries, run-down farmhouses, and the basement nano brewery next door.

Fueled by Dayton Honey Gruel, sour PetioCocus Laced Lambix, and all manner of beers in between,

William Boswick's Rollicking quest for the Drink's origins takes him into the Redwood Forest of Sonoma County to bullet-ridden South Boston

Brew pubs and across the Atlantic from Mesopotamian sands to medieval

monasteries to British Brewing Factories. You can get a free one month trial to Audible and two free audio books by going to

Audible Trial.com slash everything everywhere or by clicking on the link in the show notes.

If someone were to just ask you which came first, beer or bread, most people would

probably respond, bread, and with good reason.

Bread is a form of food, and beer is something that isn't really a necessity.

Sure, it's probably nice to have, but beer doesn't seem like something which would drive the

rise of agriculture, let alone civilization.

In fact, given how most people react to beer, it seems like

...